Saturday, 16 July 2011

21st Century Hampshire Top Twenties: 2005/2006

Havant & Waterlooville season ticket holders could feel reasonably satisfied with their club's showing in 2005/06.

An unremarkable season.

Pedro Mendes scored the most well-known goal of Pompey's Premiership stay against Manchester City to kickstart the club's miracle escape from relegation. Elsewhere, Saints and Aldershot Town were stuck in the middle of their respective tables, like a pair of blue snooker balls. AFC Totton, who haven't finished outside the top eight of whichever division they've been in this century, were slap bang in their median position of fourth. Fareham Town, who have finished between fifth and tenth in the Wessex League for all but one of the last ten seasons, shuffled nervously back to their usual level after a dip the previous year. The only champions were Winchester City - their fourth championship in six seasons - they won themselves promotion from the Wessex.

Cove became the first Combined Counties League side to nuzzle into the rankings. There was a re-entry for Hamble Aerostructures Sports Club, and Lymington Town sidled in at 20 - much to the pleasure of their supporters, who weren't too happy when they originally merged with New Milton in the late 1990s - like Palestine or Chechnya in the United Nations, their fans refused to recognise the new club and started off afresh at their home ground in Lymington.

Dropping out temporarily were Brockenhurst and Alton Town; BAT Sports were never to come back under the tobacco company's name (they are now Totton & Eling).